As the last few weeks of the NFL season come to an end, it’s important to keep in mind that the most exciting football hasn’t even been played yet. Yes, the best is still to come and with good games come even better storylines. You know, the one’s about the Jets sneaking in at the last second, quarterback controversies in San Francisco and the health of the quarterback in our nations’ capital. We live for football. But we also live for the great stories that stay with us after the games have been played. Here our nine things we hope for nine teams with playoff potential:

(Scott A. Miller/Associated Press)

Jets – Make the playoffs. Please, these guys just have to make the playoffs. We don’t care how they do it, but just do it. Cheat if you have to. Life without the Jets is like a morning without coffee. For some reason, we just need them. Rex and all.

(Nick Wass/Associated Press)

Redskins – RG3 stays healthy. I don’t care if he needs to slide like Ricky Henderson, the guy has to stay on the field. Please, RG3, just get on the ground. The NFL’s most exciting player on one of the league’s most surprising teams needs to be out there. Kirk Cousins would be a neat story, but nobody wants the uglier friend.

(James D. Smith/Associated Press)

Cowboys – Tony Romo starts to struggle again. OK, so he’s had a few good games and he’s got the Cowboys winning again, but doesn’t life make more sense when Romo isn’t good? Who else are we going to blame if the Star doesn’t get into the playoffs? Jerry Jones? Jason Garrett? Can you imagine if Romo and the Cowboys run the table the rest of the season, but so do the Giants, and the Cowboys don’t earn a playoff berth? It’s like we’d have to blame someone but wouldn’t know where to start. What a nightmare!

(Andy King/Associated Press)

Vikings – Adrian Peterson gets 2,000 yards. Few reasons: 1) It puts a ribbon on his comeback player of the year type year thing, 2) He is now the front runner for MVP and it gives us something to argue over in the offseason, 3) ‘CAUSE IT’S 2,000 YARDS! Enough said. Peterson has 1,600 with three games to go. The last one is home against the Packers. How nice would it be if Peterson got to 2k and the Vikings somehow made the playoffs? What a treat for Vikings fans.

(Tom Gannam/Associated Press)

49ers – The 49ers get crushed by the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football in Week 15 and Colin Kaepernick plays awful. I mean like Rex Grossman awful, and all of a sudden Alex Smith looks like God. Jim Harbaugh scratches his head so much during the next week everyone thinks he has lice. He decides to go with Smith in Week 16 and the 49ers lose to the Seahawks in a tight one, and all of a sudden they are in danger of letting their division lead slip away. HOLY SMOKES! This would be a QB controversy for the ages, and one that could seep into the playoffs. Can you imagine all of San Francisco coming together to argue for who they think should start each week? Heck, the 49ers can leave it to a fan vote on their website. Now we’d really be in the social media age, eh? Was kidding about the last part. Kind of.

(Bill Kostroun/Associated Press)

Giants – How about a running back controversy? With Ahmad Bradshaw questionable this week, how great would it be for Giants fans if David Wilson broke out once again? Sure, these two could eventually split carries for the remainder of the season, but something tells me Bradshaw won’t enjoy a rookie stealing his thunder. The Giants are certainly a better running team than last season, but they could arguably use more help. With the way Bradshaw and coach Coughlin went at it in Week 7, there’s no person on earth who wouldn’t want to see that type of drama unfold again, with Bradhsaw claiming he is the guy. Speaking of drama, do the Giants ever have any of it?

(Stephen Brashea/Associated Press)

Seahawks – The Seahawks beat the Bills and 49ers lose to the Patriots and all of a sudden the Week 16 matchup between these two teams is huge. Who would’ve thunk it that Seattle would actually have a shot at winning the West? The only thing we would need from this game is a Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll handshake showdown after the game. Maybe they could arm wrestle or something.

(Scott Boehm/Associated Press)

Baltimore Ravens – Ray Lewis comes back, stays healthy and continues to be the integral factor that’s made the Ravens who they are for so many years. It’d be tough to see this guy on the sideline in the playoffs in a big game. Life is just better when Lewis is playing and playing well.

(Joe Howell/Associated Press)

Bears – The Bears have been so up and down this year it’s tough to keep track. First it was their awesome defense and their shaky offensive line, and now their D’ can’t seem to stop anyone. With Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall still looking good together, how confusing would it be if all of a sudden the Bears got hot because of their offense, defeating the Packers on Sunday and riding the momentum into the playoffs? No one cares about defense anyways.

Do you have something you’d like to see happen to one of the remaining playoff contenders? Let us know in the comments below!

Share this:

Guidelines: Fan feedback should be within the
guidelines for the NFL community. These guidelines will be used to identify those comments that will be removed from display
on the site. Please keep your comments relevant to the topic, not abusive or combatant towards other fans, and don’t share
any personal details. Use the “Report” link to help keep the community at its best.

Comments may be no longer than 2000 characters and will post to the site shortly after submitting.

SidelinesWhat are NFL players and coaches doing when they’re not at work? From community events to appearances on shows like Dancing With the Stars and everywhere in between, NFL.com offers a sideline pass to see what’s happening off the field.